by Kevin Manahan, USA TODAY Sports

by Kevin Manahan, USA TODAY Sports

One way or another, Josh Freeman is gone, probably this week (maybe even today):

Greg Schiano got to the NFL because his buddy, Bill Belichick, assured the Glazer family that the little-known college coach from Rutgers would do things his way â?? you know, like Belichick.

So, you don't think Schiano is going to let a malcontent quarterback keep skipping meetings and creating headlines while the winless Tampa Bay Bucs are in a 1-9 tailspin (over the past two seasons) and Schiano is fighting for his job, do you?

Expect the Bucs to trade Freeman, who is earning an $8.4 million base salary this season (and begrudgingly eat most of his contract), release him (and eat all of it) or suspend him (and spark a nasty fight).

But the odds are against Freeman sticking with the team, even as just another millionaire watching from a luxury box â?? especially after Schiano called the deactivated Freeman's move to the box a "mutual decision" and Freeman's agent, according to the Tampa Bay Times, called that a "lie. Obviously."

Maybe Ray Lewis does know better:

During the offseason, Joe Flacco told USA TODAY Sports he often didn't know what the heck Ray Lewis was saying when he was giving speeches and pep talks in the Baltimore Ravens locker room. Maybe Flacco should've listened more closely, or had Ray Rice translate.

When confronted with Lewis' most recent comments about the team's lack of leadership now that Lewis is retired and other veterans have left the team â?? and how it might have led to Jacoby Jones' party-bus incident â?? Flacco smirked. No leadership could prevent guys from having a good time after a win, he said, "Ray knows better."

Flacco, of course, had a chance to show that his leadership was sufficient Sunday, but he tossed five interceptions in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Check out those biceps on Woody!

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan had a brilliant idea: Make the entire Jets organization (even the owner) do pushups for every penalty a player commits. After the Jets were called for 20 penalties in a Week 3 victory over the Bills, Ryan thought the calisthenics would drastically reduce the number of flags tossed their way.

It worked, kind of. In Sunday's 38-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Jets committed 10 penalties for 66 yards, which is less, but still too many.

So, drop and give us 10, Woodman!

Dirty or just misunderstood, Ndamukong Suh is playing well:

He'll never shake his reputation as one of the NFL's dirtiest players (and maybe THE dirtiest player), but the Detroit Lions defensive tackle is dominating again.

Suh had his first two sacks of the season in Sunday's victory over the Chicago Bears, and he forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

But no matter how well he plays, fans (and league officials) will be watching closely for the next infraction. Suh was fined $100,000 for an illegal block on Vikings center John Sullivan in Week 1, with the league hinting that any future cheap shots will result in even stiffer penalties.

"I'm not so much worried about whether people see me dirty or they see me as a great player, as long as we're winning I'm satisfied with that," Suh said Sunday. "I'm not going to sit here and lie to you, I would love for it to be focused on my play, but I understand people have their agendas and people have things that they want to focus on. I can't really concern myself with that."

The NFC East is getting its butt kicked by the AFC West:

As in 1-7. The Philadelphia Eagles are 0-3; the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys are 0-2 against the division; and the Washington Redskins' victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday is the lone win.

And to make matters worse, the AFC West is joking about it.

The Denver Broncos scored more points than they ever had in their 54-year history on Sunday in a 52-30 victory over the Eagles, and Peyton Manning joked that Thunder, the Arabian gelding who trots around the stadium after each Broncos touchdown, might need "an IV after this one."

We'll put this in terms Thunder would understand: Whoa.

The NFC East, not long ago seen as the best division, top to bottom, in the NFL, is now the weakest link.

PHOTOS: Best shots of Week 4

The bye week couldn't come at a better time for the four teams on break:

The Minnesota Vikings (1-3) need time to sort out their quarterback situation â?? or at least time to break the news of his demotion gently to Christian Ponder. After Sunday's victory in London, Matt Cassel should get the job.

The once proud Pittsburgh Steelers (0-4) will take the week to think about coach Mike Tomlin's threat to cut anyone who doesn't bust their tail to save the season "no matter who they are."

And the Washington Redskins, with the federal government on the verge of shutting down, have given fans hope that not everyone in D.C. is a total screw-up.

The Titans will miss Jake Locker:

For three years, the question in Nashville has been, "Can we win with this guy?" Now that the Tennessee Titans quarterback is out with a hip injury, the question will be, "Can we win without this guy?"

The Titans, with everyone playing for their jobs (well, maybe not you, Kenny Britt; you're already history), are one of the surprise teams of the NFL at 3-1.

And now the pressure falls on Ryan Fitzpatrick, the former Bills starter who signed a big contract in Buffalo â?? then couldn't play under the pressure.

"The reason I was brought here was to help Jake out and be ready for a situation like this," Fitzpatrick said Sunday. He added that when he entered the game with an 18-point lead his mission was simple: "Don't screw it up."

Same thing with the season, Ryan.

Soon, they'll be talking about Tom Coughlin's retirement:

After a near-mutiny in the locker room and an ongoing feud with the media, Coughlin's family convened a meeting after his second season with the Giants and pleaded with the New York Giants coach to retire.

He refused. Then he went on to win two Super Bowls and possibly earn a spot in Canton.

But if the losses keep piling up for the 0-4 Giants, the kinder, gentler media will start nudging Coughlin toward the door, and his family might start whispering that it's time for the NFL's oldest active head coach to walk away while he still has his health.

But unless Coughlin loses control of the team -- which isn't likely â?? Giants CEO John Mara will let him leave on his own terms. (Or his wife's.) Still, a Giants meltdown when they're hosting the Super Bowl does not reflect well on the organization.

Matt Schaub is on the brink (and it ain't getting any easier soon):

So, what's worse than throwing pick-sixes in three consecutive games, getting booed by Houston Texans fans who once adored you and having your jersey burned in the parking lot?

Schaub knows it's this: Trying to get the fans and media off your back by beating the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night.

Tony Gonzalez didn't come back for the pay check:

If he had, the Atlanta Falcons tight end could've phoned it in Sunday night, with the game all but decided and the New England Patriots romping.

But Gonzalez, who is taking one last shot at an elusive Super Bowl, caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter to keep the Falcons alive, and ended up with 12 catches for 149 yards and two TDs. He spent a lot of the night fighting double teams, especially in the red zone.

With the Falcons 1-3, Gonzalez's Super Bowl hopes are in jeopardy, but don't expect him to pack it in. Last week, after getting his "bell rung" (but no concussion) in the first half, he played on when he could've taken a seat.